ROSS TOWNSHIP C

As early as 1795 Abram Kitchen from Connecticut, located on the farm now occupied by James Crockett, on ABroadway;@ made considerable improvements, in 1795 setting out an orchard, some of the trees of which are still standing.

In 1808 Francis Irvin from Connecticut, located in the south part of the township. He had the first horse team in Ross. Paul Wolf located in the south part of Ross in 1806. Timothy, Aaron, and Jacob Meeker settled west of Grassy pond about 1796, and in 1800 sold to G.M. Pringle and Hiram Berth.

Daniel Devore, who came to this township in 1793, is still living, aged one hundred and four years. Farming was his occupation while in active business.

The pioneer store was kept by Alvin Wilkinson in 1835 at Bloomingdale, and Josiah Ruggles was the pioneer merchant and first postmaster at Sweet Valley.

The first school-house was built in 1820. Joseph Moss [@Little Joe@] and Anna Turner were the pioneer teachers, Mr. Moss teaching the first winter and Miss Turner the first summer school.

Years ago Mr. George A Crockett while plowing his garden, struck a large flat stone covering a walled up grave, containing bones supposed to be those of an Indian. Another grave was found a few years ago, near North pond, in which were the bones of an Indian whom Mr. L.T. Myers told Nathaniel Goss that he killed. While out hunting he was chased by Indians into a swamp near North pond, shot and wounded one of them, but was captured and compelled to assist in carrying the wounded Indian to about the spot where this grave was found. One of the Indians was left in charge of Myers and the wounded man. The second night the wounded Indian died, and Myers escaped and returned to his family.

In former accounts of Indian tragedies it is reported that Philip Goss was killed near Wapwallopen by the Indians. In conversation with the Goss family, now living in Fairmount, it was learned that it was David Goss instead of Philip who was so killed, and they authorize this correction.

Citizen Soldiers

Archibald Berth was a patriot soldier in the Revolutionary war, after escaping from the British service. He settled in Ross in 1800, died in 1820, and was buried in the Arnold burying ground in Union Township.

John Wandel who located in the south part of this township about 1800 was also a soldier of the Revolution and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne. He has descendants still living in this township.

Benjamin Franklin Wesley was a volunteer soldier and sailor of the war of 1812. He was taken prisoner at Queenstown. He died in Ross in 1830 leaving a number of descendants in this township.

Ebenezer Wilkinson, late of Ross township was one of the volunteers of the war of 1812. Some of his classmates still reside here.

As near as can be ascertained the following list comprises the soldiers representing the town of Ross in the war of the Rebellion:

Col. R.P. Crockett

Captain James Davenport

George W Holmes, killed

Wilson Long

Luther Dodson

I.R. Dodson

Abiel Sutliff

Andrew Sutliff

A.W. Sutliff

William Thompson, died in service

A.S. Rood

James Henry

I.M. Culver

I.P. Long

C.Rood

Almon Rood

James Rood

Henry Sutliff

D.W. Seward

R.R. Seward

S.H. Sutliff

J. Blanchard

Elijah Moon

I.B. Stevens

Wilbur Stearns

H.H. Holmes

J.M. Holmes

Isaac Naphas

Sidney Naphas

Thomas Shaw

John Shaw

Cyrus Rummage

Lewis Rummage

Jordan Wolf

Edward Mott

Lafayette Hann

William Edwards

Thomas Long

Nathaniel Wolf

W.F. White, killed

Lorenzo Ruggles

William Nagle

Wesley Hontz

Josiah Hontz,

Henry White, died in service

Alonzo F White, wounded

Aaron Philips

Richard Morris

Charles Wesley, killed

Weston D Millard, killed

John Rood

Silas Nevil

James Nevil, lost an arm

Jacob Nevil, killed

Webster Long, killed

Samuel P Wandel

Samuel Montgomery

C. Moore, wounded in eye

Warren Mott, killed

George Moore, killed

Henry Kitchen

P.D. Edwards

Clark Edward

David Ross

Miles Ross

William Lewis

Abram Agnew

J.W. Davenport

William Wesley

Benjamin Wesley

Edward Wilkinson

Joseph Totten

James Congleton

Jonah Post

______ Post

______ Post

Zephaniah Long

Morris Hatten, wounded

Jerome Hatten

Aaron Freeman, wounded

John Freeman

Institutions of To-Day

At Bloomingdale there are a store, a post-office, a schoolhouse, an Methodist Episcopal Church, a saw mill, a blacksmith shop, and about 75 inhabitants. At Sweet Valley there are a store and a post-office, a AChristian@ church, a blacksmith shop, a saw-mill, a school house about 75 inhabitants. At what is known as Broadway there area church AChristian@, a school house, a shoe shop, and a few dwellings.

There are in the township seven school houses, in each of which school is kept six months in each year. Farming is carried on to some extent in the south part of the township and the most extensive farm is that of G.A. Crocket & Sons who have over three hundred acres on which are large apple and pear orchards, and a large vineyard.

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This Town History was donated by Linda.

© 1997-2010 by Mary Ann Lubinsky for the PAGenWeb Project, and by Individual Contributors